Macedonia Asks Neighbors for Assistance in Mass Murders Investigation

Photo from the area in which the five dead bodies were discovered by a local fisherman. MakFax

The Macedonian police has asked its counterparts in neighboring countries to assist with any information regarding the gruesome murder of five which was uncovered early Friday near Skopje.

"At present the Ministry of Interior does not exclude any versions regarding the crime, including the possibility that the perpetrators have already left the country," stated Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska Saturday, as reported by MakFax.

"The Ministry has asked police services in neighboring countries, in case they have any information relating to the murders, to let us know and cooperate with us," added she.

The bodies of four youths and a middle-aged man, all of Slavic Macedonian ethnicity, were discovered shot several times at a lake near the village of Smilovci, just next to the Macedonian capital.

"We confirmed that several people shot the four youths and the man from close range with 3 different types of weapons," revealed Minister Jankuloska.

She renewed calls issued Friday by the Macedonian authorities on citizens to exercise restraint and not let the tragic events re-ignite simmering tensions between Slavic and Albanian Macedonians.

"No matter the graveness and seriousness of this criminal act, we must not let inter-ethic relations be aggravated," said Jankuloska.

Earlier Saturday Macedonian President George Ivanov had also issued an official statement calling for peace in the wake of the killings.

Friday there were some riots in the Skopje district of Radisani, as well as on the road to Smilovci, causing some injuries and damaged property.

Saturday the situation in the country is reported to be tense, but peaceful.

A day of mourning has been called by the government to commemorate the victims, who are to be buried Saturday.

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